Coptisine suppresses proliferation and inhibits metastasis in human pancreatic cancer PANC-1 cells

The effects of coptisine against advanced stage of human pancreatic carcinoma PANC-1 cells was investigated in vitro. Coptisine (25-150 mu M) treatment for 48 h caused dose-dependent cell growth inhibition by using CCK-8 assay. Additionally, coptisine was found to inhibit PANC-1 cells metastasis by the wound healing assay. Flow cytometry data indicated that coptisine (25-100 mu M) exhibited dose-dependent G1 phase arrest and moderate reduction of S phase. Coptisine was also found to inhibit ERK phosphorylation and total ERK levels. Our research suggested that coptisine would be a potential therapeutic drug for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. [GRAPHICS] .